Gas scrubbing device



July 14, 131. A. L. GENTER 119814937? GAS SCRUBBING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1 92? INVENT R ATTORNEYS Patented July 14, 1931 TsDalSTArss PATENT enrol:

ALBERT Ii. GENT'ER, or, SALT LAKE CI Y, UTAH, ASSIGNOR T GENTER THICKENER 00., OF SALT-LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION or D AWARE This invention relates" to gas scrubbing devices and has for its object the provision of a novel device by means ofwhich particulate matter entrained in gases may be re-' moved therefrom by means of-a liquid and subsequently separated from the liquid in a thoroughly eflicient and practical manner. More particularly, theinvention aims to provide a'combined gas scrubbing and liquid separating apparatus in which heat transferred to the li'quid duringthe scrubbingoperation maybe advantageouslyutilized to protherein, the necessary intimate contact of the gases with the water being achieved travelsof the gases, t

through the turbulency of the gases in their" upward passage. In some instances, the towers are so constructed that the water inits downward'passageis caused to flow in sheets across the path oftravel of the gases. In other instances, the'towers are provided with mechanical devices; which cause a spraying or atomi'zing of thewater in the paths of The water is withdrawn from the towers adjacent the points oi entry of thegases, and, in some instances, it conducted to suitable decantation. apparatus; or settling basins for the purpose of separating the water frorn'the entrained particulate matter. Theseparat ing devicesvare usually,locat ed. at some disj t ance from the scrubbing apparatus and re- 45 quire relatively large areas 'fofitheir installation. In plants where the necessary space for settling ponds, decantation tanks, 1orfil- 1 I -ters is not available, the wash water from the scrubbers is wasted. This'practice generally 1" results in stream pollution, and, in some Application filed August 23,

-;plants, as for instance, steel plants, a loss of stream pollution are in force, the entrained 'ations to promote separation of the water and totore possible.

GAS scRuBBIne DEVICE.

1927. Serial no. 214,813.

valuable solid substances. Tnsomeihstances, the gases contain valuable substances which may be recovered, but it is found that the cost of installing and operating the usual separating devices is so great ,as to-make their.

recovery uneconomical. In these latter instances, where 1t -1s permisslble, the washwaters are wasted, and, where laws against solid substances are separated from the wash' wateratalosspl g Y f,

The present invention is based on the utilization of the heat transferred from the gases to the wash water during the scrubbing oper-v solid substances. High temperatures are most conducive to the separation .of solids) from llquids in whichthey are suspended,

the temperature increases while the solidsremam spbstantially unaffected. 'By pre VBI I tIIIg dJSSIPafiOH of. the heat contained .in

the wash water between the scrubbing and h separating steps ,in a process for recovering entralned partlcul-ate matter from gases, lam

able to effect a substantially complete recov cry of the entrained material ina shorter time and at a lower cost thaIrhas-been here- In carrying out my invention, I combine a gas scrubbing device and a liquid separating device to form a single unitary structure. The liquid separating portion of my apparatus forms the substructure for the gas the apparatus directly: to the liquid'separator without any substantial loss ofheat.

scrubbing portion of the apparatus. .The hot jwash water flows downwardly within 1 The eificiency of the apparatus is such that the. liquid separator may. be of substantially the same cross-sectional area as the scrubber or of substantially the same cross-sectional, area as the substructureof the usual gas ground space than the usual gas .scrgbberscrubbing device. Thus I' have provided an apparatus which combines the functions fseparategas scrubbers and liquid separators,

since the viscosity of a liquid decreases as T 1 alone. In combining the two sepafate de- D vices I have not only provided an apparatus which functions to produce results which cannot be achieved by the two devices hereto fore commonly used, but I have provided anapparatus which may be installed and operated at a cost which isrelatively low as comtion with the accompanying drawing, in

which the single figure shown is a vertical section taken substantially through the center of the apparatus, part of the scrubbing device being broken awayin order thatthe apparatus may be shown on a relatively. large scale.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, a well known type of vertical gas scrubber is mounted above a dewatering device of .the' typeillustratedin the United States Patents 1,359,162, 1,379,495, and 1,560,796 and my co-pending applications,- Serial No. 43,957 patented Sept 20, 1927, No. 1,6 42; 67 3; Serial No. 61,676, patented Nov. .12, 1929,-'No'.

, 1,734,999; and Serial No. "62,721, patented filter units to form a support forthe scrubber, to the driving motor 52 by the-shaft 53and' June 4, 1929, .No.-=1, 716,040.; to-fdrm a substantially vertical tower. The deivater ing device, which forms the substructure for the scrubber, comprises" a tank 10, which is preferably. formed of concrete,

having a plurality of filter units-11 mounted therein. The tank wall extends 'abovethe and it is provided with anumber of open- 'ings 12 through which access to the entire dewatering device may be obtained.

Rakes113 which are adapted to move the sediment deposit on the inclined-bottom of the tank-toward the centrallyv disposed sump 14 are mounted withinthe tank on a vertical shaft 15. Theteeth of the bevelled gear 16 mounted on an end portion ofthehorizontal shaft 17 mesh withthe teeth of thebevelled gear 18 which is mounted onthe lower end ,portion of the vertical shaft 15. The'shaft [17 is rotated through the agency of a worm wheel 20 rigidly mounted thereon and a worm 21 which is-connected to a suitable 7 source of power (not shown).

Thelfilter units 11, each of which comprises a plurality of tubular filter elements 22, which comprise bodies of perforated metal or corrugated wood having outer coverings of porous material,- are grouped around a cenbottom ends to pipes which are in turn. connected to the valve body 23 throu h pipes.

trally disposed automatic valve body 23 and filtrate. receiver 24. The filter elements 22 are closed'at the top and connected at their or conduits 26 and 27. The valveody 23 and filtrate receiver 24 are supported on one or more beams or girders 28 which may extend across the tanki10. The filter units 11 are removably supported by the valve body 23 and an annular ledge 30 formed on the interior of thetank 10. The pipe 31 which is i The valve body 23 is connected to a suitable pressure pump not shown through a pipe 35 and to a vacuum pump 36 through the receiver 24 and alpipe 37. A'valve plug 38 which'is so constructed as to be adapted to alternately connect each of the filter units 11 with the pressilre line 35 and the vacuum line 37 is rotated by a *motor 40 actingithrough the horizontal \shaft 41- and the bevelled gears and 43 in the manner described n my co-pending application, vSerial No.

62,721, filed" October 16, 1925. A seal 44 which depends from the receiver 24 communicates with the pipes .45 which are provided for the purpose of conducting the The scrubber is divided into a pluralit ofby ajseries of annular bafiles 46 and a series of annular trays 47 which are rigidly mount- "ed on the interior of'the tubular shell 48. A "centrally disposed vertical shaft is "communicating compartments or-cham ers rotatably mounted within the shell 48 on a bearing .51 mounted on the bottom wall of Qthe scrubber. The shaft 50 is supportedat thetop by a suitable bearing and connected other suitable means contained within the being lower than the inner wall 56.

housing 54. Each of the trays. 47 isprovided I with inner and outer walls and 56, the.

Sprayingun'its 57, each of which comprises an outer inverted frusto-conical shell having a perforated upper edge portion and a plurality of inner imperforate inverted frustoconical shells of graduated sizes, are rigidly moun d on the shaft .50 intermediate adjacent trays 47 above the uppermost tray 47 and below the lowermost tray.47. The spray ing units 57' are so mounted on the shaft '50 that the lower ends of the frusto-conical members comprising the lowermost unit .extend bellow the'upper' ends of the pipes or conduits 45 and the lower ends of the 'frustoconical members ofieach of the other unitsextend below the overflow lip of the tray 47 I whichis positioned immediately below the unit. The scrubber is provided with a gas' inlet 58 adjacent its lower end'and a protecting baflle 60jis disposed between the gas inlet and the lowermost spraying unit. A water I inlet 61 which communicates with an annular channel 66 isgprovided above the uppermost annular bafile 46. frust'o-conical sliell 62 vpash 90 water from the scrubber to the tank 10.

is mounted within the scrubber above the uppermost spraying unit and communicates with a cylindrical shell 63, having an opening in its wall through which the gases may pass. A gas outlet 64 is provided in shell 48 adjacent the top of the apparatus.- One or more water outlets 65 may be connected to the intermediate trays of the scrubber. Q-

In the operation of the apparatus, the shaft .50 carrying the spraying units 57 is continuously 'rotated at a high rate of speed. Water enters the channel. 66 and overflows to the uppermost baflie 46 which guides it to the uppermost tray 47. The water flows downwardly through the scrubber continuously from each tray to the next lower baflle46 and tray until it reaches the bottom from where y it is conducted by the pipes or conduits 45 to the liquid separator below. The cones of the spraying devices dip into a constant supply I of water and as they rotate with the shaft 50, the water is drawn upwardly on their inner surfaces and projected horizontally through the perforations of the outermost cones to form a fine mist or fog. The gas which enters through the inlet 58 passes upwardly through the water flowing over the edges of the bafiles 46 and the fine mist formed by the spraying devices and out through the opening in the cylindrical member 63 and outlet 64. During the. passage of hot gases through the scrubber, the water functions to condense metallic vapors or thevapors of'any other high melting point substance and to remove the entrained dust which it carries to the bottom of the scrubber. The water from the uppermost chambers may be sufliciently clean and cool for re-use and a portion of it may relatively short and the conduits are con-- tained entirely within the apparatus, little or no-heat is lost during the transfer and the water enters the tank 10 at substantially the same temperature at which it leaves the scrub-' ber. L

Reduced pressure is continuously maintained in the receiver 24 by the vacuum pump 36, and the yalve plug 38 is rotated to alternatelyconnect the filter units with the receiver and the pressure line 35 for predetermined p'ieriods. While each filter unit is in connection with the receiver wateris drawn through the porous coverings of the filter elements of the unit and cakes pf the suspended solid matter material may form on the outer surfaces of the filter elements. When the filter units are cut ofi from the receiver and pressure is applied, the cakes are caused to fall away from the filter elements-and they settle to the bottom of the tank to form a sludge which is moved to the sump 14 by the rakes 13 and which may be withdrawn through the outlet pipe 31. pass to the overflow launder 33 and out through the outlet pipe 34.

If the amount of waterflowing to the tank 10 is relatively small and the water is hot enough to reduce the viscosity sufficiently, the filtering apparatus may be dispensed with and aclear overflow to the launder 33 and a satisfactory sludge may be obtained by simple decantation methods alone.

Suflicient filter area, either of the sand bed type or the type illustrated, may be combined with the available decantation area in any installation to adequately handle the maximum amount of water which it will be desirable to use in the scrubber. Decantation may also be materiallyaided by the addition of Clear water may suitable flocculating agents to the contents of the tank 10. I

I claim:

1. An apparatus for recovering entrained particulate matter from gases, which comprises a scrubber, means having an unobstructed passage for introducing particleladen gases into the scrubber, means for bringing a liquid intointimate contact with the gases to remove the particulate matter from said gases, a receptacle for receiving the liquid containing the particulate matter, and filter means for separating said particulate matter and said liquid.-

2. 'An apparatus for recovering entrained particulate matter from gases, whichv comprises a scrubber, means having an unob- 'structed passage for introducing particle laden gases into the scrubber, means for bringing a liquid into intimate contact with the gases to remove the particulate matter from said gases, a tank having a bottom discharge outlet, means for conducting liquid from said scrubber to said tank, and one or more filter elements extending into said tank and adapted to, separate said liquid from 'said particulate matter.

'3. An apparatus for recovering entrained particulate matter from-gases,. which comprises a scrubber, means having an unobstructed passage for introducing particleladen gases 'into the scrubber, means for bringing a liquid into intimate contact with ll It) the gases to remove the particulate matter from said gases, atank provided with'a sub: stantially centrally disposed discharge outlet in its bottom wall, filter means extending into'said tank and adapted to separate said liquid from said particulate matter,.an d a rake for moving solids deposited upon the bottom of said tank toward said discharge outlet.

4.- An apparatus for recovering particulate matter from gases, which comprises a tank provided with a substantially centrally disposed discharge outlet in its bottom wall and having an overflow launder adjacent its upper edge, a gas scrubbing device mounted upon said tank, means having an .unobstructed passage for introducing particleladen gases into saidscrubbing device, means for bringing a liquid into intimate contact with the gases to remove the particulate matter from said gases, means for conducting liquid from said gas scrubbing device to said tank; and a rake mounted within said tank and adapted to move solids settling upon the bottom of said tank toward said discharge outlet.

5. An apparatus for recovering particulate matter Etrom gases, which comprises a tank having a bottom discharge outlet, a

scrubbing device mounted upon said tank,

' means having an unobstructed passage for introducing particle-laden gases into .said scrubbing device, means for bringing a liquid into intimate contact with the gases to remove. the particulate matter from said gases, means for conducting liquid from said scrubbing device to said tank; and filter means extending into said tank and adapted to separate said liquid from said particulate matter. i

' 6. An apparatus 'for recovering particumatter from gases which comprises a tank provided with a substantially centrally disposed discharge outlet in its bottom wall, a gas scrubbing device mounted upon said tank andprovided with means for bringing a liq.-

- posited on the bottom of said tank toward said discharge outlet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I ALBERT L. GENTER.

late matter from gases, which comprises a tank provided with a substantially centrally disposed discharge outlet in its bottom wall, agas scrubbing device-mounted u on said tank, means having an unobstruote passage for introducing particle-laden gases into said scrubbing device, means for bringing a liquid into intimate contact with the gases to remove the particulate matter from said gases, means for conducting liquid from said scrubbing device tosaid tank filter means" extending into said tank and-a apted to separate said liquid from said, particulate matter, and a rake mounted within said tank and adapted to move solids deposited upon the bottom of said tank toward said dis charge'outlet.

7. Apparatus for recovering particulate matter from gases which comprises a vertically disposed tank having a bottom discharge outlet, a scrubbing device mounted upon said tank, means having an unobstructed passage communicating with said scrubbing device at a point near its bottom for introducing particle-laden gases into said scrubbing device, means for bringing liquidmto intimate contact with the gases to remove the particulate matter from said gases, means .for conducting liqliiiid from said scrubbing device to said tan a' plurality of filter elements extending into said tank and adapted to separate sald liquid from said particulate matter, and means for mechani: callyremoving the solids deposited on the bottom of said tank.

i g Apparatus .for recovering particulate 

